Lyrics
The Air That You Breathe (2026)
Love
I have become an older man
In the wink of an eye
With the wave of a hand
And I have tried to understand
The simple truth
The simple plan
All of the years I’ve searched for clues
I’ve only found one single truth
Through pages and pages of questions I’ve sifted through
[CHORUS]
Love
Is the one thing I am sure of
Love
There’s never enough
You’ve got to believe before you see
Trust before you feel
Hope before you find
Love
Everyone I know is searching for peace
They cling to a promise
They barely believe
And hope for tomorrow on dreams they conceive
As they wait for a savior
To answer their pleas
After the good books have been read
The prayers have all be said
More questions than answer linger in my head
Love
Is the one thing I am sure of
Love
Seems the time has come
You’ve got to believe before you see
Trust before you feel
Hope before you find
Love
​
– Lance Cowan, Lantzmuzik (ASCAP), Rees Shad, Shadville Music (SESAC)
​
Pieces of Love
Make up your mind if you’re trying to fail
Pack up the tools that you need
Time is a thief and it’s hard to tell
What will come of mediocrity
You say that love has mistreated you
Well baby, welcome to the club
You’re chained to a ghost that is haunting you
And that’s what you’re so scared of
[CHORUS]
You feel broken, cold and scattered
Like glass across the floor
Pick up all of the pieces that matter
Pieces of love and nothing more
If you could do anything at all
Would you do the best that you can
To lose that past that you carry around
Like a suitcase in your hand
I’m not your judge and I’m not trying to change your mind
I’m just trying to be a friend
And I pray your damaged heart has not left you blind
To the hope that lies within
[CHORUS]
Pick up all of the pieces that matter
Pieces of love and nothing more
​
– Lance Cowan, Lantzmuzik (ASCAP)
Where’d They Go
Woke up this morning, put the coffee on
I didn’t know that the cream was gone
I went next door to borrow some
Nobody home
And the dog was barking
Went to work, came home at five
Looked next door for any sign of life
Something just don’t feel quite right
Jesus Christ
The dog’s still barking
[CHORUS]
They always tell us when they’re leaving town
We water their plants
Keep an eye on their house
We asked the neighbors
Nobody knows
Where’d they go
Where’d they go
It was getting dark and getting late
No lights on at the Garcia’s place
I’ve never known them to act this way
Vanish with no trace
And the dog keeps barking
[CHORUS]
Where’d they go
Where’d they go
–Lance Cowan, Lantzmuzik (ASCAP), Terry Clayton, Custer City (SESAC)
​
The Air That You Breathe
Even as a young boy
It all seemed so clear
It was never a question
Of where he’d go from here
There was something about him
That set him apart
He moved with a rhythm
And a song in his heart
He played in bands in high school
The hometown superstar
Everyone who knew him
Believed that he’d go far
But life is kind of funny
And it’s hard to keep the faith
When you’re trying to make a living
Dreams have to wait
[CHORUS]
It’s the sunlight in the morning
The thing that feeds your soul
That gives your life its meaning
The thing you need the most
The ground that you walk on
The dreams that you dream
The blood that runs through you
It’s the air that you breathe
[BRIDGE]
The years disappeared, but the passion remained
And the song in his heart, always stayed the same
I hear his music on the radio
He’s a little older now
People come from miles around
When he rolls into town
And though his hair is grayer
His voice still strong & true
See, it’s never too late
And it’s never too soon
[CHORUS]
​
– Lance Cowan, Lantzmuzik (ASCAP), Karen Leipziger, Yogiz Music (BMI)
William Cooper Smith
His named was William Cooper Smith
From Fort Smith Arkansas
He rode the Wild West Texas hills
The right hand of the law
Well Willie was an honest man
Lived his life alone
He wore a silver star with pride
He was faithful to a code
[CHORUS]
The road is long and winding
From the cradle to the grave
When the Good Lord finally calls you
All you take is your name
Well Marshall William Cooper Smith
Was justice through and through
Jury, judge and hangman
Graveside preacher, too
He tried to walk a righteous path
While dispensing peace
Dispatching crooks and ne’er do wells
Murderers and thiefs
[CHORUS]
Well Marshall William Cooper Smith
Went crazy playing God
Too much blood had soiled his name
He feared his soul was lost
So one night ‘neath the Texas stars
He counted up his dead
Asked the lord’s forgiveness
And put a bullet through his head
[CHORUS]
– Lance Cowan, Lantzmuzik (ASCAP), Miguel Salas, Great Horn Music (SOCAN)
​
​
The One You Love
With all my heart
I made a wish
On each falling star
That I could just
Hold you in my arms
And be
The one you loved
Midnight blue
Just me alone
With the silver moon
What in the world
Can this poor boy do
To be
The one you love
[BRIDGE]
Once upon a time
I could call you mine
I was a fool to ever
Let you go
And now I know
Your goodbye
Will haunt me
Until
The day I die
But I’ll remember
There once was a time
When I was
The one you loved
The one you loved
​
– Lance Cowan, Lantzmuzik (ASCAP), Terry Clayton, Custer City (SESAC)
​
Be With You
Lately
I’ve been losing track of time
Can’t seem to focus my mind
On nothing that I say or do
My friends
Say that I’m a hopeless guy
Wearing out a stupid smile
Darlin’ if they only knew
[CHORUS]
I keep
Thinkin’ about
Bein’ with you
Bein’ with you
Day in
Day out
I swear it’s true
I swear that it’s true
The only thing I ever want to do
Is be with you
Some think
Time will change the way I feel
They don’t think this love is real
But they don’t know the things I do
One day
When the years have passed us by
Love has stood the test of time
I know I”ll still be crazy for you
[CHORUS]
– Lance Cowan, Lantzmuzik (ASCAP)
​
​
Closer To Truth
I sit alone in the morning light
A piece of paper in my hands
I didn’t get to sleep last night
Thinkin’ ‘bout my old friend
Bad news coming down the wire
Another victim of unfriendly fire
We’re closer to truth in dangerous times
We are closer to truth
Pain and suffering all about
But never hit so close to home
RIght now I’m so filled with doubt
Has God left us all alone
Staring out at the empty sky
Does anyone know why
We’re closer to truth in dangerous times
We are closer to truth
We’re nearer to God when lives are on the line
We are nearer to God
Last time I saw my old friend
He just smiled and waved goodbye
That’s how I’ll always think of him
Standing there so alive
And in the best and the worst of times
It seems we always find
We’re closer to truth in dangerous times
We are closer to truth
We’re nearer to God when lives are on the line
We are nearer to God
We are dying for love for all of mankind
We are dying for love
– Lance Cowan, Lantzapalooza Music (BMI), David Mallett, BMG Ruby Songs, Reservoir Media Music (ASCAP)
​
When He Was Here
He got the new car
She got the kids
They sold the house and lived apart
I kept the memories
Of how it had been
Kept every picture in my heart
When he was here she would smile
They would laugh for a while
She would ask am I still your only one?
They would dance cheek to cheek
By the light of our tv
And we never needed memories
When he was here
He found his freedom
She found a job
And gave away her wedding gown
Spent every weekend
Calling up old friends
Asking discretely “What’s he doing now?
When he was here she would smile
They would laugh for a while
She would ask am I still your only one?
They would dance cheek to cheek
By the light of our tv
And we never needed memories
When he was here
The letters and the photographs are packed away
For rainy days when we were brave
I asked her did she taste forever in his kiss
Does it have to end like this
Both of us just wishing
He was here she would smile
They would laugh for a while
She would ask am I still your only one?
They would dance cheek to cheek
By the light of our tv
And we never needed memories
When he was here
– Lance Cowan, Forrest Hills Inc / Sony Publishing (BMI), Janis Ian, Taosongs Two (BMI)
​
The Road
Turns out the lights
Lays down in bed
Tries to sleep
Gets up instead
Puts on his pants
Walks outside
Lights a cigarette
Another sleepless night
Never felt so alone
Staring down that road
Turns the key
Backs down the drive
Got a .38
By his side
A pint of Jack
From the liquor store
No reason to stop
Drinking no more
Never felt so alone
Pulls out on the road
Pass the factory
Where he used to go
Before his job
Moved to Mexico
He can’t find work here
Anyplace
He’s got kids to feed
Bills to pay
Never felt so alone
Driving down that road
There’s a Minute Mart
By the interstate
Things get slow
When it gets late
He’s an honest man
And he never thought
This was a thin line
He’d ever cross
Never felt so alone
As he steps out on that road
– Lance Cowan, Lantzmuzik (ASCAP), Terry Clayton, Custer City (SESAC)
​
Home With You
It’s raining here in Memphis
This hotel’s freezing cold
By now you must be sleeping
I can’t sleep ‘cause I’m so alone
This coffee’s lost it’s flavor
I can’t stand this ache in my bones
God knows how much I miss you
He knows how I miss my home
[CHORUS]
But if home is where the heart is
And darlin’ my heart belongs to you
Then no matter where I travel
Darlin’ I’m home with you
Last week it was Chicago
Next week it’s Baton Rouge
Seems I have seen this whole country
When all I wanted to see was you
They call this a “suitcase living”
But it feels like dyin’ to me
Cause if you can’t hold your lover
What good is your dream
[CHORUS]
– Lance Cowan, Forrest Hills Inc / Sony Publishing (BMI)